BEIRUT: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Saturday urged citizens to “safeguard the sacrifices made by our people” as the country marked the first anniversary of the deaths of Hezbollah leaders Hassan Nasrallah and Hashem Safieddine.
The militant group held a memorial event where an Iranian delegation, led by the head of the Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani, was present alongside large numbers of Hezbollah supporters waving the organization’s flags with Lebanese, Iranian and Palestinian banners.
The ceremony followed days of political friction, during which time Hezbollah projected images of the slain leaders, who were assassinated during the group’s war with Israel, onto Raouche Rock without authorization.
The move prompted protests from lawmakers in Beirut and a government directive from Prime Minister Nawaf Salam requiring official approval for such displays.
Just back from the UN General Assembly in New York, Aoun called for cohesion in honoring the legacy of victims of the war and urged the Lebanese people to “rally around a unified, strong and just state.”
